Influence of laser coagulation therapy on untreated fellow-eyes in severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy-spectrometric results.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to examine the influence of laser treatment on untreated fellow-eyes.


METHODS
The effectiveness of the laser photocoagulation was investigated in 24 patients with type II diabetes mellitus and severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Using a spectrometric technique, the measurements in the macula were performed one day before laser coagulation and on the day directly following laser treatment. Further investigations took place 14 days and 6 weeks later.


RESULTS
One day after coagulation, the reflection of the untreated fellow-eyes was found to be significantly increased between 530 and 600 nm, compared to the same eyes before coagulation. However, 14 days and 6 weeks after laser treatment alterations in the untreated eyes were no longer detectable.


CONCLUSIONS
The choroidal blood volume seems to be decreased not only in coagulated eyes, but also in untreated fellow-eyes, and, presumedly, the choroidal blood flow is improved. Considering the short duration of these effects, a therapeutic consequence is not supposed.
Augsten
R
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Germany.
Königsdörffer
E
E
Gläser
K
K
Schweitzer
D
D
Strobel
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013053:Spectrophotometry